November 2018 news

Air Forces - Aerospace and Defense Industry

Irkut readying Russian Air Force final batch of Su-30SM fighters

Posted On
Thursday, 29 November 2018 16:24

An air formation of the Russian Western Military District will receive a pair of Su-30SM fighter jets from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (an affiliate of IRKUT Corporation) to form a new air squadron in the Kursk region, the press service of the Western Military District said.

Rockwell Collins to upgrade B-1 Lancer training system

Posted On
Thursday, 29 November 2018 12:15

Rockwell Collins has been selected by Aero Simulation, Inc. to provide modifications to the B-1 Lancer training system for the U.S. Air Force. Rockwell Collins will execute concurrency, obsolescence, and cybersecurity upgrades to the five current training systems including the Weapon Systems Trainer, Mission Trainer, Cockpit Procedures Trainer and two maintenance trainers. The enhancements will be made to align the training systems with the current configuration of the B-1 aircraft.

Second MQ-9B RPA joins GA-ASI SkyGuardian development program

Posted On
Thursday, 29 November 2018 11:45

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. received a Special Airworthiness Certification in the Experimental Category from the FAA for its second MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft. The company-owned Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) – registered as N191FP and known as YBC02 – joins the first SkyGuardian in support of the MQ-9B development program. This certification permits YBC02 to conduct flight operations in National Airspace (NAS) as a civil aircraft.

RAF F-35B training for the first time with US and French fighter jets

Posted On
Thursday, 29 November 2018 10:18

Britain's new fleet of warplane F-35B Lightning jets have passed a significant milestone by conducting their first exercise with U.S. and French Air Force fighter jets, the Royal Air Force said Wednesday.

Sierra Nevada lands $329 million order to provide Nigeria with 12 A-29

Posted On
Thursday, 29 November 2018 09:57

Sierra Nevada Corp. has been awarded a US$329 million contract for the delivery of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force, the US Department of Defense announced on November 29, 2018.

Logos demonstrates Redkite airborne imagery sensor in The Netherlands

Posted On
Wednesday, 28 November 2018 16:48

Logos Technologies announced today that it successfully demonstrated its Redkite wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) sensor to a large number of representatives from several Defence, Security, Law Enforcement, and Civilian agencies in The Netherlands in partnership with AEC Air Support BV at their Bosschenhoofd airfield. The flights mark the first time any European government officials have seen the lightweight WAMI system in operation.

Egypt requests $1Bn FMS for 10 AH-64E Apache helicopters

Posted On
Wednesday, 28 November 2018 16:20

The US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Egypt of ten AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters for an estimated cost of $1.0 billion, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on November 27, 2018.

UAC rolls out Il-112V airlifter first prototype

Posted On
Wednesday, 28 November 2018 15:52

UAC's Il-112V airlifter first prototype has been rolled out yesterday. "The first flight prototype of Il-112V light transport aircraft has been handed over to the flight test station in Voronezh aviation plant," the Russian aircraft maker said on its Twitter account.

U.S. Military eyeing on Workhorse's SureFly eVTOL personal air vehicle

Posted On
Wednesday, 28 November 2018 15:02

Workhorse Group Inc. announced yesterday that it entered into a CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) with a branch of the U.S. Military. The CRADA will enable a collaborative R&D program focused on military applications of the Workhorse's SureFly eVTOL personal air vehicle.

UK opens new Chinook Mk 6 training facility

Posted On
Tuesday, 27 November 2018 17:09

A new, purpose built facility replicating real-life operations for RAF Chinook Mk 6 helicopter crews with the very latest technology has been officially opened on November 21, 2018, the UK MoD stated in an official announcement.

Lockheed contracted for Legion Pod production and integration on F-15C fighter jet

Posted On
Tuesday, 27 November 2018 16:18

Lockheed Martin secured two contracts from the F-15 prime contractor, Boeing, for the integration and production of Legion Pod. These include a 28-month Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract and a Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract to produce 19 systems.

China reportedly working on Y-20 tanker variant

Posted On
Tuesday, 27 November 2018 12:17

China is modifying its domestically made strategic transport aircraft Y-20 to take on new missions like aerial refueling, a military insider said. A tanker variant for the Y-20 is now under development, the expert who is familiar with the matter, told the Global Times on Sunday on the condition of anonymity.

CAE launches CAE Rise training system for the defense market

Posted On
Tuesday, 27 November 2018 11:53

Today at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), the world’s largest military training and simulation event, CAE announced the launch of CAE Rise™ for the defense market.

Lockheed secures 108M$ order for IRST21 Sensor System

Posted On
Tuesday, 27 November 2018 11:39

Lockheed Martin received a contract for phase II of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block II Infrared Search and Track (IRST) program for the U.S. Navy, awarded by aircraft prime contractor Boeing,the US-based defense giant said on November 26, 2018.

Embraer completes KC-390 troop evacuation tests

Posted On
Tuesday, 27 November 2018 09:33

Embraer successfully completed the troop unloading, evacuation by hatch and evacuation tests through the front and rear doors of the KC-390 multi-mission medium airlift recently held at Brasília Air Force Base, in Brazil, the aircraft manufacturer announced on November 21, 2018.

Serbia receives first H145M twin-engine helicopter

Posted On
Monday, 26 November 2018 16:52

The Serbian Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin visited the Airbus Helicopters Donauwörth site to accept the first H145M for the Serbian Air Force. In December, two H145Ms will be delivered to the Serbian Ministry of Interior. Altogether, Serbia will receive nine H145Ms, earmarked for the Air Force and for the Ministry of Interior. Four of the Air Force’s aircraft will be equipped with the HForce weapon management system.

Russian Helicopters' Mi-38T helicopter takes to the sky

Posted On
Monday, 26 November 2018 14:16

Test pilots of the Mil Helicopter Plant of the Russian Helicopters Holding made the first flight on Mi-38T helicopter produced by Kazan enterprise for the Russian Defense Ministry, the holding said. The units and equipment of Mi-38T will be tested for compliance with the technical assignment.